Process of reducing metallic sulfids.



I UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK M. BECKET, OF FALLS, NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF REDUCING METALLlC SULF 'ID S.

- Specification of Letters Patent Patented May 28, 1907.

Application filed March 5,1907. Serial No. 360,712.

To all whom, it nmy concern: t

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M; BECKET, a subject of the Kmg of Great Britain, re-

siding at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara. and State of New York, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Processes of Reducing Metallic Sulfids, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the reduction of sulfids by means of silicon or silicon alloys.

The invention presents particular advantages as applied to'the rcductionof molybdenum and vanadium from their sulfid ores;

and" will be described by reference thereto,

The process may, however, be applied generally to sulfid ores, concentrates, mattes or compounds, and the invention is not restricted to the specific instance described by way of'illustration. V

The usual commercial methodof producing molybdenum comprises two steps, molybdenite, MoS being first roasted in an oxidizing atmosphere to an oxid or mixture of OXldS of molybdenum, which is then subjected to the reducing action of carbon. .In order to produce alow-carbon metal by this method it is necessary to use an amount of reducing agent somewhat less than that theoretically reguisita-and to maintain the tem erature ow the fusion point of the reduce molybdenum. The molybdenum thusobtained is in the undesirable form of powder, and contains several per cent of the oxids of molybdenum-chiefly the lower oxids such as M0 0 When the metal is produced in the fused condition the oxids are generally elimi-' nated, but the molybdenum contains an ob-.

jectionable proportion of carbon.- The yield of molybdenum by this method is also low. Another commercial method consists in relducing molybdenum oxid by aluminium,

thereby obtaining a fused metal of high purit. but at an excessive cost. s.

have found that commerci'allypure molybdenum or vanadium may be produced by smelting in an electric furnace a mixture of molybdenum or vanadium sulfid, and silicon or a material containing silicon, the silicon being preferably employed in substantially the roportions indlcated for 'molybdenite by t e reaetion MoS 1- Si Mo SiS,,.

I'have alsofound that a commercially pure ferro-molybdenum or 'ferro-vanadium or the corresponding nickel-molybdenum or nickelvanadium alloys may be produced by smeltmg 1n an electric furnace a mixture of molyb- .denu m or .of vanadium sulfid, with a silicon alloy as ferrosilicon or nickel silicon, the alloy being preferably used in approximately the proportions required to supply sullicient silicon to unite with the sulfur of the sulfid.

I In operation the sulfid, and a silieon-bcar- -.tion;'whereas if a certain proportion of silicon is permissible in the product an excess of the silicon or silicon-bearing reducing agent may be used. The operation 'is preferably rendered "continuous in character by adding fresh portionsof. the charge from time to time and withdrawing the product as desired.

By smelting the charge in a close chamber and protecting the products from oxidizing influences the sulfid of silicon may be collected, but in open smelting furnaces both of the constituent elements of the sulfid unite with oxygen, yielding silica in a state of minute subdivision and sulfur dioxid these products may be collected and utilized as desired.

In the production of the alloys of molyb-' I denum or vanadium withiron, nickel and the like, I may incorporate iron, nickel, or other metal with the charge prepared for the reduction of molybdenum or vanadium, or I may introduce the desired proportions of these metals into the furnace at any time durin the operation: or the metals, iron and nicke for example, may be reduced from their compounds simultaneously with the reductionof the molybdenum or vanadium without interfering with the process.

I claim:

1. The process which consists in reactin 0 upon a metallic sulfid with silicon.

'2. The process which consists in reacting upon a metallic sulfid with a silicon alloy.

3. The process which consists in reacting upon a metallic sulfid with ferrosilicon;

4. The'process which consists in commingliug it metallic sullid and a silicon-bearing reducing agent, and electrically smelting the mixture.

5. The process which consists in commingling a metallic sullid and l'errosilicon, and electrically smelting the mixture.

6. The process ol producing metals of low silicon and carboncontent which consists in reacting upon at metallic sultid with silicon, the silicon being present in suhstnntizilly the proportion required to unite with the sulfur ol the sullid. I

7. The continuous process of reducing metallic sullid which consists in smelting a mixture of said snllid and n silicon-bearing reducmg agent, adding fresh portions of the charge,

and wit-lnlrn-wing the product as desired.

8. The process of reducing molybdenum sultid which consists in reacting thereon with silicon.

9. The process of reducing molybdenum sullid which consists in reacting thereon with a silicon alloy. I

10. The process of reducing molybdenum sulfid which consists in reacting thereon with ferrosilicon.

11. The process of reducing molybdenum sull id which consists in reacting thereon with silicon in substantially the pro ortion .required to unite with the sulfur o the sulfid.

12. The -process of reducing molybdenum sullid which consists in reaetin thereon with ferrosilicon in substantially t to proportion re uired to supply silicon to unite with the sul fnr of the sulfid.

13. The continuous process of reducing molybdenum sulfidwhich consists in smelting a mixture of molybdenite and silicon, adding fresh portions of the charge, and withdrawing the product as desired.

In testimony whereof, I uflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK M. BECKET. Witnesses:

C. P. TOWNSEND, O. W. FOWLER. 

